Brick press



Dec. 19, 1961 R. H. MCELROY 3,013,321

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BRICK PRESS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. 1 H. McEZ 20/A TTWZNE rs 3,013,321 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 pawl 3,013,321 BRICK PRESSRoy H. McElroy, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to International Clay Machineryof Delaware, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb.29, 1959, Ser. No. 794,719 2 Claims. (Cl. 2541) This invention relatesto a compacting press and in particular to a com acting press forforming bricks or briquettes.

The present invention represents a further extension in development andrefinement of the general inventive concept disclosed in applications:McElroy et a1. Serial No. 386,621, now abandoned, for: Press and Methodof Operation, filed October 16, 1953; and McElroy Serial No. 418,863,now Patent No. 2,909,226, for: Method and Apparatus for CompactingGranular Material filed March In the applications identified above thereare disclosed arrangements for compacting granular material by vibratorytechniques so that the usual extremely heavy pressing arrangements thathave been employed heretofore for forming bricks are eliminated.

The usual pressing arrangement has hydraulic or mechanical pressingarrangements and the compacting of the material is carried out simply byexerting an extremely high pressure against the granular material. Inthe applications identified above as well as with the arrangement of thepresent invention, the compacting of the granular material isaccomplished by bringing a compacting memher to rest on the granularmaterial and then vibrating the compacting material which brings aboutcompacting of the material.

The devices of the pending applications referred to above have beencharacterized in having a compacting plunger attached to a cross headthat is guided in the press frame. It has been found, however, that thisarrangement results in the forming of crooked bricks since thecompacting member tends to become misaligned.

A primary object of the present invention accordingly is the provisionof an arrangement forcompacting granular material by vibration of acompacting member in which the compacting member is so guided as toprevent tilting thereof and accordingly bricks of a proper shape will beproduced. 7

In the usual type of compacting press, including those referred to inthe above identified applications, it is many times extremely difficultto replace the molds in which the bricks are made. This made itclifiicult to change the press from one type of brick product to anothertype.

Thus, a still further object of the present invention is the provisionof a press arrangement in which the changing of molds and dies and thelike becomes an extremely simple matter.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a controlarrangement for a vibratory compactingpress in which the chargingmechanism that delivers the material to the mold that is to be compactedtherein is adjusted automatically so that bricks of the properdimensions can be produced without close attention by the machineoperator.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a greatly simplifiedpress structure in which substantially all of the load on the press iscarried by an inner frame than can easily be fabricated. I

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simplifiedhydraulic system for operating the machine and including an electricalcontrol arrangement therefor.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail:

, FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through a press according to thepresent invention and is indicated by line 1--1 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the machine as indicated by line2-2 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan sectional view indicated by line 3-3 on FIGURE 2;

FlGURE 4 is a plan sectional view taken through the press further downand is indicated by line 44 on FIG- URE 2;

PEGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of the presspartly broken away indicating the main cross head of the press and thevibratory cross head;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the press andindicating the manner in which the ejector is guided and located in thepress;

EGURE 7 is a perspective view showing one of the removable stop bars onwhich the ejector comes to rest during a pressing operation;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view indicated by line 8-8 on FIGURE 2 showing aportion of the automatic charge adjuster of the machine;

FEGURE 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric controlcircuit; and

FEGURE 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic circuit foractuating the machine.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, and in particular toFIGURES 1 through 6, the press according to the present inventioncomprises a frame which consists of four vertically extending columnmembers 10 located at the corners of the press and which may consist ofangles placed together as illustrated and welded along their abuttingedges. At the top of the press there are short beams 12 extending fromfront to back and interconnecting the front and back column members 10.

At their bottoms the column members 10 are interconnected by thefabricated beams 14 which are welded to the columns with the beams beinginterconnected by a central beam element 16 keyed to beams 14 by keys 18and attached thereto by cap screws 20.

The beams 12 at the top of the press are interconnected by a plate 22and the sides of the press are enclosed by the large plate members 24fixed to columns 10 and with there being feet 26 at the bottom of theplates 24 on which the press rests with the lower end of the pressextending into the pit.

The plates 24 have apertures therein in which are mounted supportmembers 28 which have portions extending through the plates 24 andnotched at their inner end for receiving the rails 30. Bolts 32 throughmembers 28 engage the rails and by placing shims as at 34 beneath theheads of members 28 the rails 30 can be precisely positioned inside thepress frame.

These rails are availed of for guiding the press cross head and theejector within the press frame in their vertical movements.

Intermediate the top and bottom of the press is a stationary frame 35adapted for receiving or supporting the mold within which the bricksbeing formed are to be compacted.

A simple mold at 36 is illustrated but it is understood that the moldcould comprise substantially any configuration and there could be aplurality of cavities in the mold if desired.

Beneath mold 36 is an ejector platen 38 having V-shaped portions 40 atthe sides that engage the rails 30. This will best be seen in FIGURE 7.The ejector has a plunger 42 connected therewith which extends into acylinder 44 which is connected at its bottom to the mid point of beam16. The ejector platen is adapted for supporting member 46 that formsthe bottom for the mold.

The ejector, when in its FIGURE 1 position comes to rest against bars 48which have the replaceable wear plates 51') on opposite sides thereof.Bars 48 are clamped in position by the clamp members 52 and bolts 54which thread into the brackets '6 provided therefor on the insides ofbeams 14. The bars 48 rest on top of beams 3.4 and when the ejectorplaten is fully retracted it engages the tops of the bars thus giving ita fixed lowermost position.

The hydraulic motor consisting of the plunger 42, the piston on the endthereof, and cylinder 44 is availed of for moving the ejector platenupwardly so that member 56 which forms the mold bottom will pushcompacted workpieces up to the top of the mold 36 from which positionthe bricks can be manually removed or will be pushed off the mold whenthe charging box subsequently to be described advances to supply anothercharge to the mold.

in the upper portion of the press is a main cross head 6% which hasV-shaped guide elements 62 at the sides thereof engaging the rails Stfor guiding the cross head in the press frame.

The cross head is fabricated by welding plates together and there isformed therein a cavity 64 of substantial size. Attached to the bottomwall of the cavity is a plunger 66 extending into a cylinder 63 andthere is a piston on the end of the plunger within the cylinder. Thecylinder is attached to plate 22 forming the top member of the pressframe. By use of the hydraulic motor described the main cross head canbe raised and lowered. Located within cavity 64 are two stacks ofweights 7t) which are retained in position by the bolts 74. Weights 7 t}provide the compasting pressure so that none of the pressing force isderived from the hydraulic motor attached to the main cross head.

The actual compacting cross head is beneath the main cross head and isindicated at 80. The compacting cross head comprises a lower platemember 82 upstanding from which are the V-shaped members 84 engagingrails 30 and braced relative to plate 62. by gusset plates 36. Thecompacting cross head 80 is suspended from the main cross head by fourdistributed bolts 38 having heads 96 beneath plate 8?. and nuts 92 onthe. upper ends above the bottom plate of the main cross head. Springs94 above the bottom plate of the main cross head and springs 96 beneaththe said lower plate provide a resilient connection between the crossheads.

Tubular guide elements Welded to plate 82 surround the bolts 88 and formsupports which the lower ends of springs )6 engage. The arrangement issuch that the lower cross head will move with the upper cross head withthe springs 94 and 96 permitting vibration of the lower cross headwithout requiring that the upper cross head vibrate in unison with it.At the same time the weight of the upper cross head, which may amount toas much as 2500 pounds, is exerted on the lower cross head though thesprings 96.

Mounted on the plate 32 of the lower cross head is a vibratorarrangement consisting of the two counter rotating or? center masses Hitand a hydraulic drive motor geared thereto at Hi2. When the motor 102 isenergized the off center masses ltil) will rotate in opposite directionsand vibratory forces in the vertical direction will be established inthe lower cross head but lateral vibratory forces will be substantiallynon-existent.

Attached to the back of the press frame is a sub-frame arrangement 134which has guide rails 106 which extend into the press frame along thesides of the mold. These guide rails movably support a charging box 108which is reciprocated along the rails by a hydraulic motor 113.

When the charging box is positioned over the mold the material in thecharging box, and which is the granulated material that is to becompacted, will drop into the mold cavity and when the charging box isretracted it will strike the mold oft across the top thus giving arelatively accurate As will be seen hereinaiter, the position of theejector cross head will determine the amount of fill so that brick ofthe proper size will be formed. The advancing movement of the chargingbox can be utilized for pushing the previously formed bricks from theirposition on top of the mold bottom on to a receiving platform 112 whichextends out the front of the press from the mold. Any suitable means canbe provided for maintaining the charging box filled with granulatedmaterial and this may include automatic controls if desired or there maysimply be provided a filling chute as indicated in the dot-dash outlineat 114.

in the charging of the mold cavity, the charging box 1% is advancedwhile the ejector platen 38 is in its uppermost position. When theejector platen is in this position the stop screws 116 carried therebyabut the bottom of the mold support frame 3-4. This positions member 46carried by the ejector platen so that it is flush with the top of themold.

After the charging box has been advanced so that it is positioned overthe mold cavity, the ejector platen is retracted until a cam element 118carried thereby engages and actuates a limit switch LS4. This halts thedownward movement of the ejector platen and member 46 carried therebyand determines the amount of material supplied to the mold cavity.

The charging box is then retracted and the material in the mold cavityis struck oil level with the top thereof.

After the charging box is completely retracted the ejector platencontinues downwardly to the bottom of the stroke and the main cross headand compacting cross head are then lowered until the compacting membercarried by the compacting cross head engages the material in the moldcavity whereupon the vibrator is placed in operation and the material iscompacted by the vibrating action.

in connection with the halting of the ejector platen to determine theamount of material delivered to the mold cavity, limit switch LS4 ismounted on a block 12 which is adjustable by the apparatus best seen inFIGURES 2 and 6, and particularly in FlGURE 8.

In FIGURE 8 it will be seen that block 120 is slidable on a rod 122 andis screw threaded with a threaded rod 124. Rod 124 is rotatable in alower support block 126 and in an upper support member 128. There is ahand wheel attached to the threaded rod for manual rotation thereof andthe rod is also connected by a jaw clutch 132 with the output shaft of ageared head reversible electric motor 134.

Normally, motor 134 is operated to rotate rod 124 thereby to adjust thevertical position of block 120 and thereby to adjust the position oflimit switch LS4 carried by the block which in turn adjusts the amountof material supplied to the mold cavity. Should it become necessary torotate rod 124 manually, the jaw clutch 132 is disconnected and the rodcan thereafter be rotated by hand wheel 1%.

An important feature of the structure described above is in connectionwith the bars 48 which form stops for the ejector platen. By removingthese blocks, the ejector platen can be lowered to withdraw member 46from the mold cavity whereby the changing of the mold at any timebecomes extremely simple.

These bars also form stop members for the ejector platen to abut when inits lowermost position and whereby an absolutely solid mold bottom isprovided against which the material within the mold cavity is compacted.

Another extremely important feature of the described structure is in theindependent guiding of the compacting or vibrator cross head. This crosshead is supported and guided independently or" the main cross head andis thus supported against any tendency to tilt or deflect which mightoccur in connection with the extremely heavy main cross head. Even ifthe main cross head does bind or tilt, the relatively light compactingcross head with its extremely long guide surfaces will be supported inthe press frame without tilting. Thus, the combination of the absolutelysolidly supported mold bottom member 46 and the extremely strongly andaccurately guided compacting cross head member, produce bricks whichhave absolutely parallel sides and which are thus superior to bricksproduced in other manners.

It will be noted that all Compacting thrusts are imposed on the fourcomer columns of the press structure whereby the side plates and otherelements of the press structure are relieved from working stresses.

Referring now to the electric and hydraulic circuits of FIGURES 9 and10,- the fiuid pressure for the system is supplied by a pump 14% whichdischarges pressure fluid into a conduit 142. This conduit leads to theinlet of a reversing valve 144 normally urged into one position byspring 146 and shiftable into a second position by energization of asolenoid S1.

The conduit that is under pressure when the solenoid is tie-energizedleads to a pilot operated check valve 148 and through which fluid canflow freely to the lower end of cylinder 68. The upper end of cylinder63 is connected with the tank and valve 144 and check valve 148 thusprovides complete control of movements or" plunger 66 of cylinder 68. g

The conduit leading from valve 144 which is under pressure when solenoidS1 is energized leads to the inlet of a valve 150 which is normallyclosed by a spring 152 but which is opened by energization of a solenoidS2 to supply pressure to a conduit 154 leading to a check valve 156.Check valve 156 is normally closed by the pressure in conduit 154 andthere is a conduit 158 leading from the check valve to hydraulic motor102.

Check valve 148 is adapted for being opened to permit flow out of thecylinder 68 by actuation of a pilot plunger 160 and check valve 156similarly is adapted for being opened to permit a supply of fluid toconduit 15S and motor 102 by actuation of a pilot plunger 162.

The pilot plungers are both connected to be actuated by pressuresupplied thereto by conduit 1&4 which is connected with the side ofvalve 144 that is under pressure when solenoid S1 is actuated.

Pressure conduit 142 is also connected through a pilot operatedvalve'166 with a conduit 16-8. Valve 166 is adapted for being openedwhen the pressure supplied thereto from conduit 142 reaches apredetermined amount, say, 2,000 pounds. Conduit 168 leads to the inletof a four-way reversing valve 170 which is normally centered by springs172 and which is adapted for being shifted into position to supplypressure to a conduit 174 by energization of a solenoid S3, and isadapted for being shifted into position to supply pressure to a conduit1'76 by energization of a solenoid S4.

, When both of the solenoids are de-energized the pressure conduit 168is blocked from both of conduits 174 and 176.

Conduit 174 leads to the lower end of the ejector cylinder 44 andconduit 176 leads to the upper end thereof. Each conduit has therein acheck valve 178 opening toward the cylinder and each check valve isby-passed normally by closed valve 180 adapted for being piloted to openposition'by pressure from the cylinder side thereof by means of pilotconduit 182.

Each valve 180 may be set to open at a pressure, say,

1,000 p.s.i.

Conduit 168 also leads to the inlet of a four-way revers position whenthe pressure in conduit 190' reaches a predetermined amount.

Draining of the pressure switch is accomplished through a valve 194adapted for being piloted into open position when conduit 188 is underpressure.

In operation, de-energization of solenoid S1 will be accomplished by ashift of valve 144 to supply lluid to raise plunger 66. At the same timesolenoid S3 is energized to supply pressure through conduit 174 tocylinder 44 to raise the ejector to its uppermost position. Thereafter,solenoid S5 is energized and this supplies iiuid to the advancing sideof charging box cylinder so that the charging box advances.

Thereafter solenoid S3 is de-energized and solenoid S4 is energized andthe ejector plunger lowers a predetermined amount until it engages acharge control switch LS4 whereupon both of the solenoids S3 and S4 arede-energized to halt the said plunger.

Thereafter, solenoid S5 is de-energized so that pressure is supplied toconduit 188 and the charge box retracts.

At about the time the charge box is retracted, solenoid S1 is energizedso that check valve 148 is piloted open and the cross heads and plunger66 drop. Simultaneously, solenoid S4 is energized and the ejectorplunger again moves downwardly to its lowermost position. At about thetime the cross heads and plunger 66 have dropped far enough for thecompacting plunger to engage the material in the mold, solenoid S2 willbe energized and there will be a supply of fluid to vibrator motor 102.

After a predetermined length of time, assuming the charge to be theright amount, limit switch LS1 will be actuated and a new cycle willcommence.

If the charge is too large, the electric control circuit providesadjustment of the position of switch LS4 and for interrupting of thecycle for the commencement of a new cycle.

Referring now to the electric control circuit of FIG- URE 9, power linesL-l, L2 and L3 are arranged for energizing drive motor 200 for pump uponclosing a relay M2.

The power lines are also connected to drive motor 134 pertaining to theadjustment of the charge control limit switch LS4 in the forwarddirection upon closing of a relay MIF and to operate the motor in theopposite direction upon energization of a relay MIR.

Power for operating the relay solenoids, the various timers in thecircuit and the valve solenoids, is supplied from the secondary of atransformer 202. v

The secondary has leading therefrom wires 204 and 206 between which areconnected the various relay solenoids and timers.

In series with a selector switch SS2 is a normally open blade of a pushbutton P131, a normally closed blade of a push button PB2, a normallyclosed blade of relay MIR and the solenoid of relay MIF.

Also in series with switch SS2 is a normally closed blade of push buttonPBI, a normally open blade of push button PB2, and a normally closedblade of relay MIF and the solenoid of relay MIR.

In by-passing relation with switch SS2 the normally closed blade of P131and the normally open blade of PBZ is a branch containing a normallyclosed blade of a relay CR7 and a normally open blade of relay TR4.

Leading from line 204 to line 206 is another branch containing anormally closed push button P33 and a normally open push button PB4 and,in parallel, the solenoids of relay M2 and a relay CRM.

PB4 is by-passed by a normally open blade of relay M2. Line204 is thenconnected through a normally open blade of CRM and a normally closedpush button PBS with a wire 208. Wire 208 is connected through anormally open blade of a push button PB6, a normally closed limit switchLS1 and a normally closed blade of a relay CR8 with the solenoid of arelay CRA.

The said normally open blade of P136 is bypassed by a normally openblade of relay CRA.

Wire is connected to another normally open blade of PS6, a. selectorswitch SS3, and a normally closed push button PB! with the solenoid of arelay CR1. A normally open blade of relay CR1 is connected from betweenthe first mentioned blade of P136 and LS1 to a point between switch SS3and P37. From the last mentioned point there is still another open bladeof CR1 connected back to line 263.

Also leading from wire 2% is another branch through a normally openblade of relay CRA to a wire 216. This branch also leads through anormally open limit switch LS2 and normally closed blade of relays CR4and CR5 to the coil of a relay CR2. Switch LS2 is by-passed by anormally open blade of CR2 and the circuit through the said blade of CR2also leads through a normally open limit switch LS3 and a normallyclosed blade of relay CR5 to the coil of a relay CR3.

The coil of relay CR2 is also directly connected between wires 206 and208 by a wire 212 leading directly through a normally open push buttonPBS.

Leading from wire 2H) to a point between limit switch 1.53 and the saidnormally closed blade of CR5 is a wire which includes a normally openblade of relay CR3.

Leading from wire 210 is a branch containing a normally open pressureswitch PS1, a normally closed blade of CR5 and the solenoid of a relayCR4. Pressure switch PS1 is by-passed by a normally open blade of relayCR4. Wire 298 is also connected through a normally open push button PR9with the coil of relay CR4. There is also a branch leading from wireZltl through a normally open blade of a relay CR6 to the coil of relayCR4.

Also leading from wire 219- is a branch containing a normally open limitswitch LS4, a normally closed blade of CR2 and the coil of a relay CR5.

Switch is by-passed by a normally open blade of relay CR5.

Also leading from wire 21% is a branch containing another normally openblade of CR5 and a timer TRl. The last mentioned normally open blade ofCR5 is bypassed by a normally open blade of the said timer TRl.

Also leading from wire 210 is a branch containing a normally open bladeof time TRl and the coil of a. relay CR6 and the said timer blade isby-passed by a normally open blade of the said relay.

Still another blade of said relay CR6 is connected between wire 210 andwire 206 in series with a second timer TRZ and a normally open blade ofsaid timer by-passes the said blade of relay CR6.

Still another branch leading from wire 2143 contains a selector switchSS2, another normally open blade of CR6 and a third timer TR3 with therebeing a holding circuit for the timer provided by a normally open bladethereof.

Still another normally open blade of the timer is con, nected betweenwire 21% and 206 in series with a fourth timer TR i and TR4 has a bladethereon providing a holding circuit.

The final branch leading from wire 210 contains a normally open blade oftimer TR4 and the coil of a relay CR7.

Connected between wire 208 and wire 206 is a normally open blade of CR7and the coil of a relay CR8.

Also leading from the secondary of transformer 232 is a wire 2.12between which wire 2% are connected the valve solenoids referred to inconnection with the hydraulic circuit.

Solenoid S3 that causes the ejector to raise is in series with anormally open blade of CR2.

Solenoid S5 which causes the charger to advance is in series with anormally open blade of CR3. Solenoid S4 which causes the ejector tolower is in series with a normally open blade of CR4. Solenoid S1 235which causes the cross heads to drop is in series with a normally openblade of CR5, and solenoid S2 which causes the vibrator motor to run isin series with a normally open blade of timer TRZ.

The overall operation of the press can now be described as follows:

With the ejector in its lower position, a gauge block of the samethickness as the brick to be made is placed on the ejector and then thecross heads are permitted to drop until the compacting plunger rests onthe gauge blocks.

The adjustable actuator 215 (seen in FIGURE 1) is then adjusted untillimit switch LS1 opens. The selector switch S52 is then closed and pushbuttons PB and PB2 are availed of for adjusting the charge control limitswitch LS4 to about the proper position for the fill desired andpreferably with the fill being slightly greater than necessary.

Single cycle is then carried out as follows:

Selector switch SS3 is open and the cycle is then commenced by closingPR6.

The sequence of events is then as follows:

(a) CRA is then energized to provide an interlock.

(1)) Relay CR2 is energized thus energizing solenoid S3 for causing theejector to raise to the top of its stroke.

(c) LS3 is closed by the ejector at the top of its stroke energizingrelay CR3 which causes energization of S5 and advance of the charger tothe front.

(0?) When the charger reaches the front pressure switch PS is actuatedand this causes energization of relay CR4 which drops out CR2 tode-energize S3 and causes energization of S4 to lower the ejector.

(e) The ejector lowers until charge control switch LS4 is tripped whichcauses energization of CR5.

(f) Energization of CR5 (is-energizes CR4 thus de-energizing S4 andstopping lowering movement of the ejector while simultaneously timer TRlis energized.

(g) The timer closes its timed contacts to energize relay CRd justbefore the charger reaches the end of its retraction stroke andenergization of relay CR6 energizes S1 so that the cross heads drop. CR6also energizes timer TR3.

(h) The ejector moves down against its lower stops while the cross headis dropping.

(i) The timed contacts of TR2 close and this energizes S2 so that thevibrator motor 102 now operates. This occurs about the same time as thecompacting plunger enters the mold box. The speed of the compactingmotor can be adjusted by a valve 216 in series therewith.

(k) If the charge in the mold is not too great switch LS1 will betripped open in about 5 seconds which will break the circuit to relayCRA and this will drop out all of the relays and the cross heads willreturn to their upper position. A new single cycle can thereafter becommenced by depressing push button P136.

(1) Should the limit switch LS1 fail to open in a predetermined time,say, 10 to 15 seconds, indicating too great a charge, the timed contactsof timer TR3 will close and energize timing relay TR4.

(m) Timing relay TR4 closes its blade and in circuit with the coil ofrelay MIR it starts the charge motor 134 in a direction to raise limitswitch LS4 and reduce the charge. The relay is set to revolve the leadscrew about A revolution.

(n) The timer contacts of relay TR4 then close and energize relay CR7.

(0) Relay CR7 closes tie-energizing the charge motor 134 whilesimultaneously energizing relay CR8.

1) Energization of relay CR8 (lo-energizes relay CRA dropping out allrelays when the cross heads return to their upper position.

For continuous cycle operation selector switch SS3 is closed and thisenergizes relay CR1 so that PB6 is bypassed and the cycle of the presswill be continuous until 9 the cycle stop PB7 is opened which will dropout relay CR1.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention providesfor a brick press in which a relatively light press is capable ofperforming work operations that formely required a large heavy presswith a great deal of power being supplied thereto.

The press is constructed so that the stresses are confined to the cornercolumns of the press frame and the vibrator cross head is independentlyguided from the main cross head so that bricks of accurate shape areproduced. The ejector platen is arranged to be retracted below itsnormal lowermost position to facilitate inserting and removing molds.

The hydraulic circuit is relatively simple and the electric controlcircuit provides for single cycle or automatic operation while includingthe feature of automatic adjustment of the charge when the bricks aremore than a predetermined amount oversize.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a brick press; a press frame, said frame comprising four verticalcorner columns interconnected at the top and bottom, guide membersadjustably mounted in said press frame, a stationary member in the pressframe for supporting a mold, a mold having cavity and including a moldbottom mounted on said stationary member, a Weighted main cross headslidable on said guides members above said mold cavity, hydraulic meansoperable for elevating said main cross head above the mold cavity, meansfor releasing said cross head to cause it to drop toward the moldcavity, a compacting cross head beneath the main cross head adapted forcarrying a pressing plunger to engage material in the mold cavity, saidplunger resting on the material with the force of gravity only, rodsconnecting the compacting plunger with the main plunger, springs betweenthe rods and one of the cross heads, and vibration creating meanscarried by said compacting cross head which is operable uponenergization thereof to cause vertical vibration of the compacting crosshead, said vibration creating means comprising a variable speedhydraulic drive motor.

2. In a brick press; a press frame, said frame comprising four cornercolumns extending vertically and interconnected at the top and bottom ofthe press frame, guides extending vertically inside the press frame,means fixed in the press frame defining a mold cavity including a moldbottom in the press frame for said mold cavity, a weighted main crosshead slidable on the guides above the mold cavity, a motor connectedbetween the press frame and said main cross head operable to thrustupwardly only on said main cross head, a compacting cross headresiliently suspended beneath the main cross head and independentlyguided on said guides, vibration creating means comprising a motor andofif-center masses which are rotated in opposite directions and carriedby the compacting cross head for vibrating the compacting cross head tocause compacting of material in the mold cavity against the mold bottom,a lower cross head guided on said guides supporting the mold bottom andoperable to cause upward movement thereof in the mold cavity to ejectformed brick shapes from the cavity, and means providing a lower stoppedposition for the lower cross head to support said mold bottom duringcompacting operations, the last-mentioned means comprising stop membersdetachably connected with said corner columns whereby all workingstresses in the press are confined to the said columns.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS989,211 Updergrafi Apr. 11, 1911 994,349 Updergralf June 6, 19111,190,912 Koller July 11, 1916 1,669,682 Straub May 15, 1928 1,873,412Jackson Aug. 23, 1932 1,957,421 Daniels et al. May 1, 1934 2,256,798Yeakel Sept. 23, 1941 2,341,012 Billman et al Feb. 8, 1944 2,353,492OC0nnor July 11, 1944 2,382,458 Williams et a1 Aug. 14, 1945 2,512,092Dike et al June 20, 1950 2,586,210 Corwin Feb. 19, 1952 2,674,008 VanDer Pyl Apr. 6, 1954 2,712,168 Kenline July 5, 1955

